Critical turnovers doomed Yale’s chances to spring an upset at Montana State in the FCS football playoffs Saturday. Ultimately, the second-seeded Bobcats put Yale away, 21-13, in Bozeman, Mt.
Yale, (9-3) playing in the postseason for the first time, with the Ivy League’s decision to allow its champion to participate, came from four TDs down to stun Youngstown State in the first round. On Saturday, in a tougher defensive battle, Yale controlled the ball on the ground, with captain Josh Pitsenberger gaining 124 yards on 26 carries, but could not punch it into the end zone until the fourth quarter.
The Bulldogs’ defense contained Montana State, favored by as much as 28 points, much of the game, but wore down late.
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Quarterback Dante Reno (20 for 35, 198 yards) had to come out to tend to an injury on Yale’s second possession, and backup quarterback Marshall Howe moved the team to midfield before throwing an interception to Caden Dowler, the Big Sky Conference’s defensive player of the year. That set the Bobcats up in good field position and they drove 40 yards in five plays, quarterback Justin Lamson running 14 yards to the goal-line before fumbling. Teammate Chris Long recovered for the touchdown.
Reno returned and Yale controlled the clock with Pitsenberger, who also caught four passes for 41 yards, eating up yards in small bites, but the Bulldogs could not get into the end zone. Their defense, though, continually stopped Montana State.
In the third quarter, Yale drove 78 yards on 14 plays to reach the Montana State 8-yard line, but Reno’s pass was picked off by Cole Taylor and returned to the 30-yard line. The Bobcats tore through Yale this time, 70 yards on nine plays, scoring on Julius Davis’ 3-yard run to take a 14-0 lead as the third quarter expired.
The Bulldogs took to the air to finally score early in the fourth quarter, on Reno’s 25-yard pass to Nico Brown (10 catches, 132 yards) but Yale tried for two points and Brown was stopped on a rush.
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Montana State responded with Lamson connecting with Adam Jones for 27 yards to ignite the next series. Jones broke off a 33-yard run for the TD, extending the Bobcats lead to 21-6 with 10 minutes to go.
Reno’s 4th-and-18 pass was intercepted with 6:35 left. giving Montana State a chance to put the game away, but Lamson fumbled, recovered by Yale’s Ezekiel Larry to give the Bulldogs a glimmer of hope. Reno threw to Brown for 38 yards to the Bobcats’ 16. Pitsenberger scored on a 6-yard run with 2:09 left, finishing his season with 1,573 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns. This time, Yale coach Tony Reno elected to kick, keeping his team within one score.
Unable to recover an on-side kick, and down to one timeout, Yale was able to make a stop and get the ball back with 59 seconds left, but couldn’t advance the ball past its own 43 before eventually turning it back over.
Jones had 113 rushing yards and 34 more receiving for Montana State, who will play with Abilene Christian or Stephen F. Austin in the quarterfinals next week.